London’s new top cop told members of the Metropolitan Police Authority that it was important for police to have a relationship with the media but the balance “has gone too far”.
Answering questions from the MPA for the first time, Hogan-Howe said: “I don’t think anyone is going to argue that the police service should not have a relationship with the media.
“But it’s clear that this relationship needs to have a resetting of the boundaries between us and how we manage that interface.”
The comments come in the wake of criticisms over the Met’s handling of the phone hacking inquiry which led to a number of senior officers resigning.
Yesterday the Met published a register of gifts and hospitality received by senior officers. The Commissioner told MPA members that in future this would also include hospitality given by officers.
Hogan-Howe also told the meeting that the Met should be willing to make savings in its budget because “it’s public money” and was the right thing to do.
Dee Doocey, Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokeswoman and MPA Member, welcomed the promises of transparency, saying: “Over many months I have been urging the Met to be entirely open about the gifts and hospitality that senior officers receive. Until now it has been like pulling teeth getting any information out of the Met.
“This new register should ensure that the days of secret dinners between senior Met officers and media executives are finally behind us.”
